Reinstated lawmakers seek to recover salary and benefits

The 12 reinstated lawmakers have announced that they have sent a letter to the parliament seeking to recover the salary and benefits for the period they were barred from attending the parliament.

The Elections Commission had ousted 12 members of parliament following a Supreme Court ruling on floor crossing last July, but the top court, in a landmark ruling on February 1 had overturned its previous decision and declared, “no member of the People’s Majlis had legally lost membership of the Majlis,” and nullified its earlier ruling on Parliament floor crossing. After the apex court’s ruling, the parliament had declared the 12 lawmakers who were unseated, as legal members of the Parliament.

Following the Elections Commissions’ decision to oust the 12 lawmakers, the Parliament sessions in the last six months were held without their representation. Speaking to “Mihaaru” some of the MP’s said that the Parliament had stopped issuing salaries and other benefits to some members since July 19, last year, hence in the letter addressed to the Parliament they had requested for the salaries and benefits to be made available at the earliest.

The lawmakers had sent the letter seeking to recover the salaries and benefits last week but they are yet to receive a response from the Majlis.

“We had sent the request letter last week, but have not received any response yet. The delay is very concerning,” stated Saudhullah Hilmy MP for North Thinadhoo.

Meanwhile, some of the lawmakers have warned that they would not hesitate to file lawsuits to recover their salaries and benefits.